Associate Director Social Value Advisory in Manchester

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world. We are an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists offering a broad range of professional services. Through our work, we contribute to creating safe, resilient and regenerative places where current and future generations can thrive.

At Arup, we see social value as the enduring and systemic change created within communities that leads to improved well-being and quality of life. This means:

• Ensuring that our projects contribute to the local community alongside environmental performance
• Designing solutions that strengthen social resilience and reduce inequalities.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social value professional to be Arup’s Social Value Advisory Service Leader sitting within our Climate and Sustainability Services Portfolio. As Social Value Advisory Service Leader you will be responsible for the successful delivery of social value advisory projects for clients from across the built environment and be responsible for quality, commercial results and client service ethos. You will be industry-facing, representing Arup’s social value advisory offer externally helping to build our market presence. You will be supported by a small team of dedicated social value consultants with diverse expertise.

Our current social value advisory offer includes developing social value strategies, designing social value measurement and reporting frameworks, undertaking local needs analysis to inform an outcomes-based approach to projects and carrying out a range of assessments to inform project design including Equality Impact and socio-economic assessments. We’re currently delivering these services on some high-profile projects such as the British Library Extension in London, White Horse Reservoir and the Great Grid Upgrade.

This is a client facing role and you will not be responsible for the management and delivery of Arup’s corporate strategy and project social value commitments; this sits within a separate business function.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share, and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

We are looking for people with:

• University degree or preferably a master’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject, such as sustainable development, economics, social sciences or planning.
• Extensive experience in a relevant discipline (social value, ESG, social sustainability) and experience in a leadership position.
• Taking a Project Director role on complex projects and programmes in one or more of Arup’s key markets (Energy, Water, Property, Transport).
• Ensuring projects deliver successful commercial, quality and client satisfaction outcomes.
• Identifying new market opportunities and work winning activities including experience of leading major bids.
• Growing a specialist service offer and building organisational capability to meet client need.
• Developing and delivering ‘go to market’ strategies.
• Being a trusted advisor with strong relationships at the highest level within client organisations.
• Ensuring effective performance management and coaching of teams.
• Upskilling others in social value advisory skills and keeping up to date with industry best practice and legislation.

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

Different People, Shared Values. Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Karin Spies at karin.spies@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.